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ESPN Could Lose Longtime Reporter Cassidy Hubbarth To Rival Network

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Jan 28, 2025 4:47 PM ET

ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth has been a rising star at The Worldwide Leader in Sports over the past 15 years, rising from the ranks of a studio host to become a full-time anchor for over a decade.

But with a number of rival networks poaching talent amid the rise of streaming services, ESPN may be forced to reconcile with losing one of their top reporters.

According to sports media insider Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Hubbarth is being pursued by Amazon Prime Video as the streaming service prepares to begin their NBA broadcasting in the months to come. Per the report, Hubbarth will be joining play-by-play man Ian Eagle on their No. 1 NBA team though have not yet made a decision on other key positions.

"Amazon Prime Video is poaching ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth to be its No. 1 sideline reporter when it begins NBA coverage next season, sources briefed on the agreement told The Athletic," Marchand reported.

"Hubbarth moves to the top position with Prime Video where she will join play-by-play caller Ian Eagle on its lead crew. Amazon has not yet hired top game analysts, but has TNT’s Stan Van Gundy and ESPN’s Richard Jefferson, among its top choices. It also has had talks with Dwyane Wade about a hybrid role that would comprise studio and games."

HOLLYWOOD, CA - JULY 11: ESPN host Cassidy Hubbarth at BODY at ESPYS at Avalon on July 11, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by John Sciulli/Getty Images for ESPN)

While Hubbarth may not jump off the page at some NBA fans the way that on-air talents like Malika Andrews, Sage Steele and Rachel Nichols would, Hubbarth was one of the people that the network had tabbed to be a part of their ongoing changing of the guard from a broadcast standpoint.

Amazon acquired NBA game streaming privileges in an historic $50 billion deal with the Association. To that end, they've been stockpiling some of the biggest names they could get their hands on to make the experience as good as possible.

Marchand reported that Amazon already has NBA legends Dirk Nowitzki and Blake Griffin on board along with Kevin Harlan and Taylor Rooks.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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